The FTC debuts new marketing rules

It’s been relatively easy for companies to claim their products are green by adding an unregulated green seal of approval on their product or making up their own green approval program, the article stated.

According to the article, that ease will change later this year when the FTC updates its Green Guides for the use of environmental marketing claims.

"There is a proliferation of companies putting a green logo on their own product. But, if a logo is on a product, the consumer naturally assumes it''s a third-party certification," said Mark Petruzzi, vice president of certification and strategic relations at Green Seal.

Under the FTC''s new rules, companies will have to clearly state what logos mean and who is verifying them, the article noted.

Violators of the new rules could be taken to court by the FTC, the article added.